Profile

The black rhino weighs 800 - 1400 kg (1760 - 3080 lb). Its height varies from
1.3 - 1.8 m (4.3 - 5.9'). The black rhino has 2 horns. Its skin is dark yellow-brown to dark brown or dark gray.
The black rhino occurs in a wide variety of habitats, from desert areas in Namibia to wetter forested areas in the
highlands of Kenya, to savannas
and bushveld areas
where the highest densities of black rhino occur. The black rhino is a browser. It
prefers leaves, twigs and branches from small acacia’s and other
woody shrubs and small trees as well as herbs
and legumes. When the weather is hot, the black rhino drinks water daily and must be
within walking distance of water. In cooler temperatures it can
go without drinking water for up to 5 days if its food is moist. The black rhino’s eyesight is
poor, but its hearing is good. Its sense of smell is well developed and
is probably the most important of its senses.

Although its belligerence has been exaggerated, the black rhino is unpredictable and can be a dangerous
animal, sometimes charging a disturbing sound or smell. Black rhinos are predominantly
solitary, the most commonly observed groups being lone males or adult
females with young. Black rhinos that share a part or all
or their range exhibit a familiarity with one another instead of the
aggression that they exhibit to total strangers. Although at times several
bulls may court a female simultaneously without apparent antagonism, serious
fights and frequent deaths result from conflicts between males over estrous
females. A premating bond develops between the bull and the cow, and the pair
remain together during resting and feeding. They sleep in contact with
each other.

The black rhino was formerly found in suitable habitat over most of Africa south of the
Sahara, from southwestern Angola across the Cape Province up to East
Africa and
north, avoiding the Congo Basin and its rain forests, to Somalia and southwestern Ethiopia, then westward along a strip between the
Sahara and the Congo and Nigerian forests to the region of Lake Chad. The black rhino population suffered an enormous reduction from a probable several
hundred thousand at the start of the 20th century to less than 2,500 by the early
1990s. However, since 1995, black rhino numbers at
a continental level have started increasing again. Hunting and clearance of land for settlement and agriculture were the major
reasons for the decline of black rhino populations in the 20th century. The situation facing the black rhino is still critical.
The demand for rhino horn from Asia (for traditional medicines) and from the Middle East (for dagger
handles) persists, and the threat of a return to large-scale poaching is still
present.

Tidbits

*** Africa's two rhino species, the black rhino and the white rhino, are not named for their colors
but for the shape of their lips. The black rhino's lips are narrow, and the upper lip is
hook-shaped (for browsing leaves). The white rhino's lips are wide and
square-shaped (for grazing grass). The Dutch settlers (Boers) of South Africa referred to the rhino with the wide,
square-shaped lips with the Dutch word for "wide" - "wijde" to
distinguish it from the hooked-lipped rhino. To English-speaking colonists, this
sounded like the word "white", and they called it the "white" rhino. Then, to distinguish
the other rhino, they called it the "black" rhino.

*** As early as the 8th century AD, Muslim traders were involved in the trade of rhino
horn and ivory from the African coast to India and China. Historical sources indicate that demand for
rhino horn was significant in the medieval period.

*** In 1990 it was reported that in Guangzhou, China,
illegally imported rhino horn sold for US$18,770/kg ($8,530/lb) (Cumming et al. 1990).

*** Black rhinos often have a symbiotic
relationship with birds called "oxpeckers" (Buphagus africanus
and B. erythrorhynchus). The birds feed on external parasites of the
rhinos, and with the birds' more acute eyesight than the rhinos', the birds warn
the rhinos of potential danger.

*** Mortal combat between black rhinos, the most recorded for any mammal, results in about 50% of
the male black rhinos and 30% of the female black rhinos dying from
combat-related wounds (Berger
& Cunningham 1998).

*** The record length of a black rhino horn is 1.4 m (4.5') (Nowak
1999).

Status and Trends

[The IUCN (International Union for the
Conservation of Nature; also called the World Conservation Union) is the world’s
largest conservation organization. Its members include countries, government
agencies, and non-governmental organizations. The IUCN determines the
worldwide status of threatened animals and publishes the status in its Red
List.]

History of Distribution:

The black rhino was formerly found in suitable habitat over most of Africa south of the
Sahara, including the Cape region in the south, from southwestern Angola across the Cape Province to East Africa, and
north, avoiding the Congo Basin and its rain forests, to Somaliland and southwestern Ethiopia, then westward along a strip between the
Sahara and the Congo and Nigerian forests to the region of Lake Chad and the French
Cameroons. Over this vast area there were localities where rhinos were absent, as along
the coast of Kenya and Tanganyika Territory, or, reportedly, between the Chobe and the
Zambezi Rivers (IUCN 1966).

The black rhino population suffered an enormous reduction from a probable several
hundred thousand at the start of the 20th century, to less than 2,500 by the early
1990s. From 1992-1995 total numbers remained relatively stable, with increases in
some countries being
cancelled out by declines in others. However, since 1995, black rhino numbers at
a continental level have started increasing again. Many remaining black rhino
are now concentrated in fenced sanctuaries and rhino conservation areas where
law enforcement efforts can be concentrated at effective levels. Surplus animals
have been translocated to set up new populations. Four countries (Kenya, Namibia,
South Africa and Zimbabwe) contain the vast majority
(97.6%) of remaining wild black rhino. (IUCN
2004)

Threats and Reasons for Decline:

Hunting and clearance of land for settlement and agriculture were the major
reasons for the decline of black rhino populations in the 20th
century. In areas where colonial settlement occurred, the presence of the
aggressive black rhino was considered unacceptable and in many areas it was
systematically exterminated. It was also exterminated in tsetse fly control
operations. Hunting for meat, hides and sport, and especially for the rhino's
horn, was a major cause of decline, particularly after the introduction of
modern firearms. In the last several decades of the 20th century, killing of
rhinos to obtain the horn was been the predominant cause of rhino mortality. In
addition to the decline in numbers, populations were increasingly fragmented. In
1986, about 75% of 60 discrete populations reviewed comprised less than 50
animals. (IUCN 1966, Curry-Lindahl
1972, Cumming et al. 1990, IUCN
2004)

The situation facing the black rhino is still critical. The international
rhino horn trade ban and the domestic bans imposed in most traditional user
countries have driven the trade further ‘underground,’ in some cases
inflating prices and making illegal dealing even more lucrative. The demand for
horn from Asia (for traditional medicines) and from the Middle East (for dagger
handles) persists and the threat of a return to large-scale poaching is still
present. Wars, civil unrest, poverty, influxes of refugees, and corruption on
the part of some officials within countries where black rhino are found combine
so that poachers can escape arrest and poverty-stricken people may become
poachers to survive. (Emslie
& Brooks 1999)

Habitat:

The black rhino occurs in a wide variety of habitats, from desert areas in Namibia to wetter forested areas in the
highlands of Kenya, to savannas
and succulent valley bushveld areas
where the highest densities of black rhino occur. It is found mainly in the
transitional zone between grassland and forest, generally in thick thornbush
or acacia scrub but also in more open country. It is not primarily a grassland
or closed-canopy forest animal but
favors the edges of thickets and extensive areas of short woody growth. It is
generally restricted to habitat within about 25 km (16 mi) of permanent water.
(Kingdon 1997, Nowak
1999, IUCN
2004)

Age to Maturity:

Age at first mating in captive black rhinos varies from 4.5 - 9 years, but
age at first fertile mating is from 6 - 9 years. In the wild, ages of first
conception vary between populations,
tending to increase in high density populations, or under poor conditions: 3.8
- 5.7 years in East Africa; 3.5 - 4 years in Zimbabwe;
from 3 years 10 months - 9 years 1 month in the high density (introduced)
population in Addo National Park, South Africa.
Age at first birth was 6.5 years in a low-density population in Umfolozi
Reserve, South Africa, and 12 years
in a high-density population in the neighboring Hluhluwe Reserve, South Africa.
Even though they are capable of reproduction, young males do not breed until
they gain a territory or dominant status, usually
when they are about 10 years old. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Kingdon 1997, Rachlow
& Berger 1998)

Birth Season:

Breeding apparently occurs throughout the year, although some investigators
have indicated that there may be mating peaks in Kenya
during September - November and March - April, and peaks in Zululand (South Africa)
during October - November and April - July. These and other reports suggest
that births tend to take place in the rainy season. (Nowak
1999)

Birth Rate:

A single calf is born at intervals of 2.5 - 4 years (Intl.
Rhino Found. 2005). Inter-birth intervals vary between
different black rhino populations,
tending to increase in high density populations, or under poor conditions (Hillman-Smith &
Groves 1994).

Data on fecundity rates for black
rhino populations [for each pair of numbers, the first number =
calves/female/year; the second number = calves/population/year] (Milner-Gulland
1999):

Early Development:

A black rhino calf is mobile soon after birth and begins browsing
vegetation before it is 1 month old. It first drinks water after 4 - 5 months.
(Kingdon 1997)Weaning is completed after about 2 years (Nowak
1999).

The bond between a mother black rhino and her calf is strong, and the calf
lies or feeds close to its mother (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994).

A young black rhino usually is forced to leave its mother after 2 or 3
years when the mother has another calf, or sometimes when she is mated. The
young rhino may, however, later rejoin its mother for temporary periods of
association, especially if it is a female. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994)

The black rhino’s semi-prehensile
upper lip is used to twist twigs while feeding. The usual feeding height is 0
- 1 m (0 - 3.3'), though a black rhino can reach higher than 2 m (6.6'). Small
trees are sometimes pushed down by walking over them to make high branches
accessible. Diameters of twigs bitten off are mainly 3 - 10 mm (0.1 -
0.4"), but they could be more than 30 mm (1.2"). This gives a high
proportion of woody to green material in the black rhino’s diet. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994)

When the weather is hot, the black rhino drinks water daily and must be
within walking distance of water. In cooler temperatures it can
go without drinking water for up to 5 days if its food is moist. In arid
areas, the black rhino also can go without water for several days, obtaining
moisture from succulent plants.
However, it is unable to survive extreme droughts. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Kingdon 1997)

Behavior:

Senses: The black rhino’s eyesight is poor.
It has been estimated that its effective eyesight extends 25 - 30 m (82 - 98‘).
The black rhino’s hearing is good. Its sense of smell is well developed and
is probably the most important of the senses, although its use is limited by
wind direction. Human scent by itself causes great alarm to a black rhino. On
the other hand, if it detects no scent, a black rhino will show no interest in
a motionless person or car unless it is closer than 20 - 30 m (66 - 98‘). (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Nowak
1999)

Activity Patterns: Black rhinos are more
active - feeding, drinking and walking - in early morning and late afternoon
to evening. In the middle of the day, black rhinos are mostly inactive
(sleeping or standing). The black rhinos are also usually active at night,
often feeding, drinking, and walking outside their core areas and in more open
habitat than during the day. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994)

Movement: Normal movement of the black rhino
is at the rate of around 3 - 4 kph (1.9 - 2.5 mph), but in a charge it can
reach a speed of 50 kph (31 mph) (Nowak
1999).

Attitude: Although its belligerence has been exaggerated, the black rhino is unpredictable and can be a dangerous
animal, sometimes charging a disturbing sound or smell. It has tossed people
in the air with the front horn and regularly charges vehicles and campfires.
If a black rhino catches the scent of humans, it usually runs away, sometimes
for quite a distance before stopping. (Nowak
1999)

Social Organization:

Groups: Black rhinos are predominantly
solitary, the most commonly observed groups being lone males or adult
females with young. Other groups of various ages and genders occur, but
they usually are temporary. The largest temporary group reported in one study
included 13 black rhinos. Females usually are found together with a
calf and sometimes an older daughter. Females without young may temporarily
join a neighboring female. Subadults frequently associate with other black
rhinos. Only fully adult males become solitary, and even they may form
temporary groups that move and feed together. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Kingdon 1997, Nowak
1999)

Relations: Black rhinos that share a part or all
or their range exhibit a familiarity with one another instead of the
aggression that they exhibit to total strangers. Overt territorial
behavior is very variable. Adult females have overlapping home
ranges. Females in
high-density areas are well acquainted with, and generally tolerant of, their
neighbors (except in the presence of an estrous
female). Two females usually approach each other cautiously, but with little
aggression. On contact they may nudge one another with the sides of the head
or horn, then usually walk away. On the other hand, the meeting of a male with a female or
another male is more likely to be accompanied by aggression, with a
stiff-legged, short-step approach, snorting and occasionally head sweeping or
horn pushing. Aggression between males can be
violent. However, except during conflicts over estrous
females, usually the subordinate or the visitor to a territory
retreats. Males in low-density areas meet less frequently and are more likely
to be aggressive. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Kingdon 1997, Nowak
1999, Intl.
Rhino Found. 2005)

Mating: An adult male and female, with the
female’s young if she has one, form temporary associations for mating during
the female’s estrus. A premating bond develops between the bull and the cow, and the pair
remain together during resting and feeding. They even sleep in contact with
each other. Especially at mating, young are
sometimes attacked by males. Although at times several
bulls may court a female simultaneously without apparent antagonism, serious
fights and frequent deaths result from conflicts over estrous
females. (Hillman-Smith
& Groves 1994, Nowak
1999)